Manchester City take summer spending to £75m as Aleksandar Kolarov passes medical

Manchester City took their summer spending spree over the £75 million mark on Saturday when they completed the signing of Serbian Aleksandar Kolarov, the Lazio left-back, for £17 million after he passed his medical.

City bound: Aleksandar KolarovPhoto: PA

By Sandy Macaskill

7:25PM BST 24 Jul 2010

Manchester City took their summer spending spree over the £75 million mark yesterday when they completed the signing of Serbian Aleksandar Kolarov, the Lazio left-back, for £17 million after he passed his medical yesterday.

The 24 year-old's arrival has led to speculation Wayne Bridge, himself a £12 million capture from Chelsea just 18 months ago, would be sold after failing to impress in his spell at Eastlands. But yesterday Roberto Mancini, the Manchester City manager, denied this was the case. "We need two quality players in every position," he said after watching a weakened side lose 2-0 to Sporting Lisbon in New York. "The left-backs will be Kolarov and Bridge."

Kolarov's signing would appear to clear the way for Chelsea to sign the Brazilian defender David Luiz from Benfica. City were reportedly interested in buying him too but club sources have confirmed that signing Kolarov would mean they would not pursue Luiz.

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti looks in need of a defensive signing with Alex out for the start of the season with a thigh injury, goalkeeper Petr Cech out for a month with a calf problem and Ricardo Carvalho hankering for a move to join up with his old manager Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid. Carvalho yesterday revealed he has an agreement with Chelsea which will see him leave Stamford Bridge this summer and described a possible move to Madrid as a "dream". "Chelsea have a commitment with me to let me go this summer, for reasons which those responsible at the club and I know. If there was a possibility to sign with Real Madrid, I would go there right now swimming or running," he said.

"It would be a dream to be able to play for Madrid, which I consider to be the best club in the world, and follow the orders of the best coach in the history of football."

Regardless of Carvalho's movements, Ancelotti seemed determined to sign Luiz. It is understood that they have already approached Benfica over a possible £20 million deal for their midfielder Ramires, and it is thought that Roman Abramovich has also sanctioned his manager to return for Luiz, who is valued at £27 million.

Ancelotti is also likely to be without Didier Drogba for the start of the Premier League season after Chelsea confirmed that the striker underwent surgery on Friday for a groin injury. He will be sidelined for around three weeks.

Drogba, 32, will certainly miss the Community Shield against Manchester United on Aug 8, and it is likely that the Ivory Coast international will be unavailable when Chelsea begin their title defence against West Bromwich Albion on Aug 14.